Buff and method of making same



Nov. 10, 1953 R, o. PETERSON BUFF AND METHOD oF MAKING SAME Filed .March17, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

e M dan O.A. N. n

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`employing pleated Patented Nov. 1),` 195:3

Ruben O. Peterson,

`llniversityv Heights, 01min, as-

signon to The Osborn Manufacturing- Company,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of .Ohio

Application MarchY 17, 1949,' Serial VNo.-81,985

16 Claims.

This invention relates as indicated tol a novel buff and method ofmaking'thevsame, and more particularly to an improved buff constructionespecially adapted to continuous' manufacture.

Fabric buffs of many types are, of course, well known in the art,perhaps the most common form comprising a plurality of layers offlatfabric discs stitched together Aand pierced centrally rvfor mounting onan appropriate hub. -It is also known to fold fabric sections intopleats or segments which are then stapled or otherwise bound to acentral hub portion. This latter type of construction has certainadvantages, including an ability to carry a considerable quantity ofabrasive or polishing material and also presenting'a Work contactingsurface adapted to have a uniform effect on the work-piece across thewidth of such face. Uneven application of abrasive and consequentstreaking is thereby avoided. Such buffs are also better ventilated andtherefore cooler in operation.

In the past, buffs'of these several types have generally required to beindividually assembled, substantially entirely by hand, and-haveconsequently been rather expensive. In thoseforms fabric fingers forexample, there has been a tendency for the cut edges of the fabricextending radially from the buff hub to ravel in use with consequentrather `rapid destruction of the buff.

t is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a novel buffconstruction adapted to substantially mechanical assembly andmanufacture and more particularly adapted to be assembled in the generalmanner shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,303,386.

Another object is to form a buff comprising a plurality of more orv lessconical fabric fingers which will have no cut edges extending radiallyfrom the back or hub. When such generally conical fabric fingers arearranged around the circumference of a hub part with the broader partsdirected outwardly, they readily flatten and accommodate themselves tothe space they are desired to fill. When such fingers are properlyformed in accordance with this invention, a maximum proportion of thefabric material is distributed at the outer ends thereof where needed toprovide a buff face of requisite density. Such a buff will be uniformlyfilled and non-streaking in operation.

A further object is to so preliminarily interconnect the buff materialelements that they may beL continuously fed to a brush strip machine orthe like.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described yandparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following de- L2scriptionand the annexed ydrawing setting forth in detailV certainillustrative,embodiments of the invention, these being-indicative,however, of but ak few-ofi thevarious Waysl in which the'principle ofthe invention mayfbe employed.

In said annexed drawing:

fliigqlis'fafplanview of a pluralityof'fabric discs blankedfoutfwi'thv aslight overlap, thereby to interconnect the same;

Fig. 2 shows twolayers of such continuously interconnected discs securedtogether attheir respective'centersand inprocess of being formed into aplurality of roppositely directed `tubular fingers;

Fig. 3-showsfthe-material of Fig. 2 after completion of suchl fingerformingoperation;

Fig. 4V is a top plan viewillustrating somewhatd'iagrammaticallytheformation of such novel =buil' material intolacontinuous strip;

Fig. 5 isa side elevational view corresponding to'Fig. 4;

-Fig.-'1 shows aA rotarybuff asseA bled as taught in'Whittle Patent No.2,288,337V but employing my novel buff material;

` Figx showsfa length of buff stripcircularized in a plurality' ofrhelicalturns to form` a rotary buing element suitable for mounting onan arbor orthe like;

VFigi!- illustrates a cup buff, shown incrosssection, employing thenovelbuff felement of my invention;

Fig. y10jis`a Ytop plan view of such cup buff;

Fig. l1 is an end elevational view of a long leadhelical strip bu"constructed in accordance with my invention;Y and Fig.' 12f is alongitudinal elevational'view ofthe arbor and-assembly of' the buff ofvliig. 11..

Referringnow more vparticularly to said drawingand thefpreferredembodiment of my'inven- 'tion there illustrated,`I may blank out aplurality of discs I froma continuous strip of fabric, with such'discsfoverl'apping slightly to provide interconnecting'porti'ons 2 andthereby preserving the blankedout material in the form of a continuousstrip. TWo layers of fabric may be thus simultaneously blanked out or`one layer of blanked out discs 'may bersuperimposed on a similar layerof discs 3-'of like dimensions-being secured thereto at their respectivecenters by means 'of' adhesive, stitching, or any other appropriatemeans. When certain plastic sheet materials are employedv to form thediscs,the 'two layers maybe centrally adhered together byapplicationofheat or solvent as appropriate.

The twolayers of "discs are then separated except at their centers andspreadvapart asv shown in Fig. 2, andfolded into. oppositely extendingpairs of generally conical pleated fingers. as shown inFi'g, 3.

A continuous series of such interconnected fingers may then be fed to abrush strip machine in the same general manner in which the strandedbrush material is fed thereto as. described in my prior Patent No.2,303,386, being placed transversely of a flat metal strip 5 with aretaining element such as Wire 6 disposed lengthwise therealong tosecure such fingers within the channelform back produced by turning upthe side portions of strip 5 to form the channel sides I and 8. Theresulting strip may be mounted in any form of holder desired or may becircularized either helically or to form an annular channelform brushback 9 adapted to be seated on an arbor or otherwise mounted with thefabric fingers I extending substantially radially therefrom. Or anannular buff may be produced as taught in Whittle Patent No. 2,288,337,employing my oppositely extending pairs of buff material fingers insteadof stranded brush material.

Various modifications of the foregoing construction and method ofassembly are obvious Without departing from the spirit of my invention.For example, the fabric discs may be individually blanked out and thenadhered or stitched together at 2 (Fig. 1) rather than being blanked inthe indicated overlapping relationship. Or individual pairs of discs maybe superimposed to form two layers Without being laterally connected attheir edges to other adjacent pairs. In

such latter case the pairs of conical fabric ngers will be formed intothe finished strips as illustrated in Fig. 4 but will require to besupplied to the metal strip forming the channel back in much the samemanner that the individual strands of brush material are supplied to thebacking strip as described in my Patent No. 2,303,386. Byinterconnecting the pairs of discs at their edges and thereby thusinterconnecting the pairs of fingers (Fig. 3) the buff material is,however. considerably better adapted to be automatically transported tothe strip machine and a more uniform density of fill in the finishedarticle is assured. 'I'he term fabric as employed herein and in theclaims is intended to include any suitable sheet material, whethertextile or imperforate plastic sheet, for example, Thus, cotton cloth,nylon (polyamide resins), Pliofilm (rubber hydrochloride), or papersheets are entirely suitable in embodiments of my invention for certainpurposes and various other natural or manufactured fiber materials maybe employed.

Furthermore, more than two layers of discs may be superimposed andcentrally secured together as shown in Fig. 1 to form oppositelydirected tubular pleated fingers in which each finger comprises morethan a single disc of fabric. For example, four layers of discs may bethus superimposed and centrally secured together and then separated Withtwo layers forming one nger extending in one direction and the remainingtwo layers forming another single finger extending in the oppositedirection. In order that the oppositely extending fingers may be ofequal size the number of layers of discs employed will ordinarily besome multiple of two.

If desired, the brush strip channelform back may have teeth punched infrom the sides thereof as shown in Patent No. 2,303,386 for the purposeof securing the retaining wire 6 thereunder to produce a strongerassemblage. Such teeth also penetrate the fabric of the flattenedconical fingers and additionally secure the same.

The fabric discs may be coated with suitablet abrasive materials such asemery, Corundum,

Alundum, and the like together with an appropriate adhesive, or suchabrasives may be applied simply by dusting the same onto the textiletabrics or by pressing the same into the plastic sheets. Or a smallamount of a solvent may be applied with the abrasive to the plasticsheet material to cause the abrasive particles to become cementedthereto when the solvent evaporates. Still another suitable type offabric for my purpose is disclosed in Radford Patent No. 2,328,998, withabrasive incorporated in the fabric strands.

When the sheet material has been bunched into generally conical pleatedfingers, adhesive may be applied to assist in retaining this condition,or clips or staples may be employed.

The buff sheet material need not necessarily be cut in disc form,although this is preferred. but a strip of fabric may merely bepartially slit to form a series or chain of interconnected squares. Thesquares of two layers will be joined centrally as above described,formed into fingers, and assembled into the channel back. The resultantarticle will then be trimmed to proper contour.

In either case, pairs of generally conical, somewhat tubular pleatedlingers are provided joined at their inner ends for securing under anelongated retaining member and interconnected at their outer ends forcontinuous feeding to the backing strip. Such interconnection of theouter ends of adjacent pairs of fingers also assists in maintaining thedesired uniform density of the material in the channel back.

As shown in Fig. 8, a length of buff strip may be helically wound withthe conical pleated f'lngers I3 extending radially and then mounted on asuitable mandrel or arbor between clamping plates. Frequently, adapterswill be desired and a buif constructed as taught in my prior Patent No.2,409,309 will be particularly well ventilated and cool in operation.Teeth II punched in from the sides l and 8 of the channelform back inaccordance with my prior Patent No. 2,303,386 assist in securingretaining member 6 in place and also, by penetrating the fabric, furtherreinforce the construction.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the generally conical shape cf thebuifing fingers results in a maximum density of material at the outerends of the same, this being of especial importance when an annular orhelical buff is formed (Figs. '7 and 8).

Figs. 9 and l0 illustrate a typical cup buil' employing the buflingelement of my invention. Two separate turns I 2 and I3 of my new buil?strip are inserted within an annular receptacle or cup I4, with thebuiling material I5 extending generally axially rather than radiallytherefrom. The two individual turns or loops of strip are dimensioned sothat one lits snugly within the other. An inner tubular retainer I6 isclinched in place and a hub or adapter I1 inserted and secured by meansof tabs I8. The flnished bui may now be mounted on a drive spindle inthe usual manner. It will be apparent that one or two turns of a singlelength of buff strip could be employed if desired, but a better balancedassembly is obtained when two separate individual turns are used, oneinside the other.

Referring now to Figs. ll and l2, a buff is there illustrated using longlead helical bull' strip as the bufling elements. It is often desired toproduce a long roller type buff of general cylindrical shape and moreparticularly a buff in which the builing elements are spacedcircumfercntially of the arbor to permit internal feeding of abrasive,improved ventilation, and an intermittent action of such elements on thework. Considerable diliiculty was encountered in developing aconstruction which would be adjustable and capable of holding the ratheroddly shaped lengths of bun. strip and yet not be-too expensive forgeneral use. It was found impractical to mill a plurality of angularslots about the peripheries oi a number of spaced hubs to receive thehelical buff elements.

In the construction of my invention, I slide a plurality of solidaluminum alloy hubs I9 onto an arbor 2i). Each such hub is stepped toprovide a portion of lesser diameter 2l in which set-screws 22 areinserted to secure the hub to the arbor against relative rotation, and aportion oi greater diameter 23 on which the channelform back 24 of thebuff strip is seated with the buff material 25 extending generallyradially. A relatively thin steel disc 25 is rmly attached to the widerside of each hub 19, such disc having notches 2l punched in itsperiphery dimensioned to receive buff strip back 24 and hold the sameagainst lateral displacement. The peripheral face of wide portion 23 ofhub I9 is drilled and tapped to receive conical-headed screws 23 adaptedto engage the sides of the channelform buif strip backs 24 to hold suchbacks firmly seated against the hub. Disc 2E, of course, provides thenecessary lateral support. One of the chief advantages of thisarrangement is that disc 2t is sufficiently thin that the buff strip maybe fitted in notches 21 even when passing therethrough at quite anangle, and this angle may be varied as desired. Thus, the various hubmembers may be sequentially rotated or indexed on the arbor 2li tooifset the corresponding notches to receive the helical buff strip, orwhere, as shown, a large number of closely spaced notches are providedabout the peripheries of hub discs 26 such notches may be in alignmentsparallel to the arbor and the strip oiset one or more notches with eachsuccessive hub. In this manner any desired degree of helical pitch maybe obtained, within reason, without the necessity of in any waymodifying the hub members.

It will be apparent that the above-described construction is alsoadapted for use with conventional brush strip employing strandedbrushing material such as Tampico fiber, nylon, etc. instead of my novelpuffing material.

The objects of my invention have `been achieved in a novel andinexpensive manner, providing a buff having both improved operatingcharacteristics and longer life. I consider the principal advantage ofmy new bui to reside in the ease with which it may be manufactureddespite the fact that it is relatively more complex in construction thanbuffs now on the market. Reference may also be had to my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 308,242, led September 6, i952, Where certainrelated inventions are disclosed and claimed.

As illustrated in the drawing, many diiferent types or" buiis may beproduced within the teaching of my invention, generally comprising aplurality oi pairs ci tapering buinng lFingers joined at their narrowinner ends, in which region of joining they are secured to a support bymeans of an elongated retaining member. Such retaining member may beheld in place by various means known in the art, as by inwardlyextending teeth from one or both sides of a channel back or by pinchingin the neck Yof such channel somewhat.

6 -Certain inventions disclosed blut notrclaimed herein` are disclosedand claimed inr my co-pending application Serial No. 195,011, ledNovember 10, 1950, and my co-pending application Serial No. 173,465,filed-July 12, 1950.

Other modes 'of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change` being'made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claimsor the equivalent 'of suchbe employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim `as myinvention:

l. The method of producing a rotary buff which comprises superimposing aplurality of fabric layers, blanking out an interconnected chain ofdiscs from such superimposed layers, joining such fabric layers at therespective centers of such discs, separating certain of suchA layersfrom the other such layers, except where thus joined at the centers ofsuch discs, to form pairs of oppositely extending generally conicaltubular pleated fingers connected at their outer extremities to adjacentpairs thereof, placing such interconnected pairs of oppositely extendingfabric nngers transversely of a metal strip, placing an elongatedretaining member thereon longitudinally of such strip, forming suchstrip to channel form with such fingers secured therein beneath suchretaining member, and circularizing such strip with such fingersextending generally radially outwardly.

2. The method of producing a rotary buff which comprises cuttingr outcontinuous seriesV of interconnected fabric discs, superimposing onesuch series of discs on a similar series, joining the center portions ofsuperimposed pairs of discs, separating such'superimposed discs, exceptWhere thus centrally joined, to form pairs of oppositely extendinginverted conical pleated fingers connected at their outer extremities toadjacent pairs thereof, placing the resulting chain of buit elementslongitudinally of a continuous metal strip with such lingers extendingtransversely thereof, placing an elongated retaining member on suchchain of buff elements longitudinally of such strip, forming such stripto channel Iorm with such joined apices of such conical fingers securedtherein beneath such retaining member, and circularizing such strip withsuch fingers extending generally radially'outwardly.

3. The method of producing a buff element which comprisesinterconnecting a plurality of discs of bufng material at their edges toform a continuous chain, superimposing one such chain on a similar chainoi discs to form superimposed pairs Of such discs, joining such pairs attheir respective centers, separating such superimposed discs to theextent permittedby the joining of their centers to form pairsofoppositely extending generally conical tubular pleated lingersconnected at their outer extremities to adjacent pairs thereof, andsecuring such pairs of fingers to a self-sustaining supporting member atthe point of central joining of suchngers, with such nngers extendingtherefrom in sideby-side relationship.

4. The method of rproducing a buil element which comprises joining aplurality of pairs of discs of buinng material at their centers,separating such discs of each such pair, except where thus joinedto formpairs of oppositely extending generally conical tubular pleated iingers,and securing such pairs to a self-sustaining supporting member adjacentthe point of joining of such oppositely extending fingers.

5. The method of producing a buff element which comprises forming aplurality of pairs of oppositely extending generally tubular fingers ofbufiing material joined at their inner ends, interconnecting such pairsof lingers near their outer ends to adjacent pairs to form a continuouschain, and securing such pairs to a self-sustaining supporting member atthe point of joining of such oppositely extending fingers.

6. The method of producing a buff element which comprises forming aplurality of pairs of oppositely extending fabric ngers, interconnectingsuch pairs to form a continuous chain, and continuously securing suchchain of pairs of fingers in a channelform support beneath a continuouselongated retaining member applied on the point of juncture of suchoppositely extending fingers to cause such fingers to assume asideby-side relationship.

7. A rotary buff comprising a circularized metal channelform backopening radially outwardly, and buff material retained therein andextending generally radially therefrom comprising pairs of fabric discsjoined at their centers and separated otherwise to form pairs ofgenerally conical tubular pleated fingers, said fingers being connectedto adjacent pairs of fingers near their outer extremities, and anelongated retaining member overlying such pairs of fingers at theirpoints of joining to secure the same in said channelform back with saidfingers extending generally radially therefrom in side-by-siderelationship.

8. A rotary buff comprising a circularized metal channelform backopening radially outwardly, and buff material retained therein andextending generally radially therefrom comprising pairs of fabric discsjoined at their centers but otherwise separated to form pairs ofoppositely extending generally corneal tubular pleated fingers, and anelongated retaining member overlying such pairs of fingers at theirpoints of joining to secure the same in said channelform back with saidfingers extending generally radially from the respective sides of saidretaining member in side-by-side relationship.

9. A rotary buff comprising an inner supporting element and buffmaterial extending generally radially therefrom, said buff materialcomprising pairs of fabric discs joined at their centers but otherwiseseparated to form pairs of oppositely extending generally tubularpleated fingers, and means securing said pairs of fingers to saidsupporting element at their points of joining, with the fingers of eachpair extending individually in side-by-side relationship radially fromsaid element.

10. A rotary buff comprising a circularized metal channelform backopening radially outwardly, and buil material retained therein andextending generally radially therefrom comprising pairs of generallytubular fabric fingers joined at their inner ends, such pairs of fingersbeing connected with adjacent pairs of such fingers near their outerends, and an elongated retaining member overlying such pairs of fingersat the points of joining of their inner ends to secure the same in saidchannel'rorm back with said fingers extending generally radiallytherefrom and with the fingers of each pair in side-by-siderelationship.

11. A rotary buff comprising an inner supporting element and buffmaterial extending generally radially therefrom, said buff materialcomprising pairs of generally tubular fingers joined at their innerends, such pairs of fingers being connected with adjacent pairs of suchfingers, and means securing said pairs of fingers to said supportingelement at the points of joining of their inner ends, with the fingersof each pair extending individually in side-by-side relationshipradially from said element.

12. A builing element comprising a metal channel back and buff materialretained therein, said buff material comprising pairs of fabric discsjoined at their centers and separated otherwise to form pairs ofgenerally conical tubular pleated fingers, said fingers being connectedto adjacent pairs of fingers near their outer extremities, and anelongated retaining member overlying such pairs of fingers at theirpoints of joining to secure the same in said channel back with thefingers of each pair extending therefrom in generally sideby-siderelationship.

13. A buffng element comprising a channel back and bufi materialretained therein, said buff material comprising pairs of fabric discsjoined at their centers but otherwise separated to form pairs ofgenerally tubular pleated fingers, and an elongated retaining memberoverlying suoli pairs of fingers at the points of joining of said discsto secure the same in said channel back with the fingers of each pairextending individually therefrom in generally side-by-side relationship.

14. A buiiing element for use in rotary buffs and the like comprisingtwo fabric sheets joined together at their centers but otherwiseseparated to form a pair of oppositely extending generally conicaltubular pleated fingers joined at their respective apices for securingto a hub or like support.

15. The method of producing a bun element which comprises joining aplurality of sheets of buiiing material generally centrally of suchsheets, separating certain of said sheets from the remainder of saidsheets, except where thus joined, to form pairs of oppositely extendinggenerally conical pleated fingers joined together at their narrowerends, and securing a plurality of such pairs of bufing fingers to aself-sustaining support adjacent the points of joining of such fingers.

16. A bufling element comprising a channel back and buiiing materialretained therein, said bufling material comprising pairs of fabric discsjoined at their centers but otherwise separated to form pairs ofindividual generally conical pleated fingers, an elongated retainingmember overlying said pairs of fingers at the points of joining of saiddiscs to secure the same in said channel back with the individualfingers of each pair extending therefrom in generally side-bysiderelationship, and teeth extending inwardly from at least one side ofsaid channel back penetrating such fabric and overlying said retainingmember.

RUBEN O. PETERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 260,558 Fowler July 4, 1882 1,404,620 Levett Jan. 24, 19222,031,105 Hall Feb. 18, 1936 2,122,609 Hendrickson July 5, 19382,146,284 Churchill Feb. 7, 1939 2,168,871 Hague Aug. 8, 1939 2,303,386Peterson Dec. l, 1942 2,409,309 Peterson Oct. 15, 1946 2,427,137 HallSept. 9, 1947 2,455,098 Seelenfreund Nov. 30, 1948

